Free Web NovelChapter 184: Chapter 183: Troublesome Thoughts
Du Yunluo lowered her head and looked at the palm of her hand.
The ointment was transparent, applied in a thin layer on her palm, showing no traces, but the feeling was somewhat familiar, as if she had used it before.
The former Du Yunluo rarely suffered from external injuries, and it had been so long that she couldn’t figure it out for the moment, but she instinctively felt that she had used this ointment before.
She just didn’t know where it had been used.
Jin Rui put away the ointment, and Du Yunluo didn’t dwell on it for now, thanking Mu Lianxiao.
Leaving the alley behind the clinic, she returned to East Street, a road much more familiar to Du Yunluo.
East Street was bustling, and even though she didn’t like to go out much, she knew that the best treasure shop, jewelry store, and clothing shop in the capital were there. The Du Family also had a couple of shops on East Street. A short distance ahead and a turn brought you to Qingshui Alley, where the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was located.
Mu Lianxiao escorted Du Yunluo to the side gate of the Du Mansion.
Du Yunluo lifted the curtain of the carriage window.
Mu Lianxiao smiled and said, "I’ll send a horse over tomorrow. There are still more than ten days until the hunting ground, so don’t rush. If I am not around, don’t practice yet."
Du Yunluo nodded in agreement.
Outside the Du Mansion, they had said everything that needed to be said. Du Yunluo, without lingering, blinked at Mu Lianxiao and was about to return inside.
"Yunluo," Mu Lianxiao suddenly called her name. Seeing Du Yunluo look at him, he said, "Do you still have ginger candy?"
If he hadn’t mentioned the ginger candy, it wouldn’t have mattered. But once mentioned, Du Yunluo’s fingertips felt burning hot.
Jin Rui, holding the food box and nibbling on a red bean cake, choked upon hearing and coughed twice, thumping her chest.
Knowing Jin Rui was unintentional, Du Yunluo’s face still felt hot. She glanced up, only to see Mu Lianxiao smiling warmly, without any suggestive intent.
Du Yunluo secretly gritted her teeth, thinking how naturally and earnestly he spoke. Truly...
Ignoring her palm injury, Du Yunluo grabbed a handful of ginger candy, thrusting it into Mu Lianxiao’s hands, muttering, "That’s it, this is all!"
Without waiting for Mu Lianxiao to react, she let down the curtain and urged the driver into the mansion.
Mu Lianxiao held the ginger candy, watching the carriage enter the side gate, he couldn’t help but smile.
He popped one into his mouth, sweet but not cloying, truly delicious.
Meanwhile, Du Yunluo got off the carriage at the Hanging Flower Gate and returned to normal by the time she reached outside Lianfu Garden.
In the East Wing, Old Mrs. Xia sat cross-legged on the Arhat Bed, listening to Miao Shi speak.
Qingming was just around the corner, and Miao Shi had been busy relentlessly these days, but her primary focus was the renovation of Chunhua Courtyard.
The Chunhua Courtyard was unoccupied most of the year, but it was cleaned regularly. Though it needed little repair, Miao Shi insisted on a full refurbishment, sticking to the belief that marrying a bride required a new room.
"Old Madam, Chunhua Courtyard now looks as good as new. Not just the main house, but the side rooms, the cross yard, and the back cover are all painted," Miao Shi chuckled, full of vigor, "Just like we discussed before, the furniture in the main house is from the ancestors, and I added a few pieces to the side rooms and cross yard. There aren’t many decorations in the main house which I selected vases and paintings from the storehouse for. The rest will be arranged according to Xin’s preferences once she arrives. The flowers are blooming beautifully in the greenhouse these days, so I had some placed in the courtyard."
Old Mrs. Xia was pleased, nodding, "Sounds good, I’ll take a look in a few days. Marrying is an important affair; Yun Tao’s wife barely spent time with me before moving to Lindong. Xin will stay in the mansion, our first granddaughter-in-law."
Miao Shi agreed repeatedly. She hadn’t liked Xia Anxin before, but the matter was settled and her family didn’t support her, so she couldn’t openly oppose Mrs. Xia. Over time, she’d accepted it.
Moreover, with Chunhua Courtyard in her hands, she felt empowered, especially when she saw Liao’s fiery glare, which pleased her greatly.
Liao sat opposite Miao Shi, holding a teacup, the corners of her mouth slightly curled up, but her eyes held no laughter, instead dark circles were evident under them, contrasting sharply with Miao Shi’s cheerful demeanor.
She was worried about Aunt Liao’s affairs.
Princess An Ran had married half a month ago, and Liao had heard from Aunt Liao about the return to the door scenario. The young couple did not seem particularly good or bad, but seemed to get by.
But what troubled Aunt Liao was her eldest son, Princess An Ran’s brother’s marriage.
A young man of eighteen without a betrothal; though noble sons in the capital married later, Aunt Liao was anxious to the point of illness.
The Young Master’s wife was in poor health, as the doctor said these were her last few months. Otherwise, Princess An Ran wouldn’t have married in such haste.
The marriage of the eldest grandson was something the Old Master had always been dissatisfied with, although Aunt Liao initially thought it was to find a good match. Looking back, it seemed it was intentionally delayed. But if it continues, once the Young Master’s wife passes and the mournful period intervenes, when will the boy marry and have children?
When the Young Master’s new wife enters the door, more changes will ensue.
To establish oneself in career and family, without a wife or heirs, how can one stand firm amidst the changing tides in the Duke Jing Mansion?
Aunt Liao complained again and again that Liao seemed fortunate, with a remarkable legitimate son and a good marriage and obedient illegitimate daughter, unlike Aunt Liao, who after years of ups and downs at the Duke Mansion, ended up with nothing.
Liao offered comfort, yet felt uneasy, for in the Du Mansion, things weren’t as smooth as Aunt Liao imagined. Just take the courtyard where Du Yunlan was to reside after marriage; it still wasn’t under her control.
Listening to Miao Shi’s constant mention of Chunhua Courtyard raised Liao’s temper.
When Du Yunluo entered, she just caught Liao’s sarcastic remarks.
"Already decorating with flowers? There are almost two months before Xin comes, Second Sister-in-law. Flowers should be timely; May’s flowers differ greatly from now. You’re too hasty."
Miao Shi snorted softly in her heart. With a complete upper hand, Liao’s bitter words were music to her ears, and she nonchalantly said, "No matter, they’ll be replaced in due time."
Liao pursed her lips, wanting to say more, but fell silent upon seeing Du Yunluo enter.
Du Yunluo stepped forward and saluted.
Old Mrs. Xia beckoned her over and asked, "Do your riding clothes feel comfortable? They look genuine enough; can you ride a horse now?"
Du Yunluo smiled, "Not that impressive yet. I can sit steady, but don’t dare rush."
Old Mrs. Xia laughed heartily.
Du Yunluo remembered Mu Lianxiao’s promise to send a horse tomorrow and mentioned it to Miao Shi.
Miao Shi was surprised, "Does the palace lack horses?"
Princess Yunhua’s affairs were not something Du Yunluo wished to discuss in detail with Miao Shi, so she responded vaguely, "Precisely because they’re palace horses, it wouldn’t be proper to borrow them all the time."
The palace had many rules, so Old Mrs. Xia and Miao Shi didn’t dwell on the matter.
Liao, on the other hand, quipped with a half-smile, "Others send geese to the in-laws, but our son-in-law sends a horse."
